IT's been another year to remember in East Renfrewshire and we're taking a look back at what was happening across the area between January and June.
Do you remember these stories?
January
Stan Esson was the winner of the 2022 Provost Award for his work as warehouse manager with East Renfrewshire Foodbank.
A founding member of the foodbank, which was set up in early 2013, Stan was recognised for dedicating many hours of his time each week to sorting donations, organising the storerooms, keeping tallies of all goods by hand and online, meeting clients and liaising with the Trussell Trust charity to ensure that everyone who accesses the service gets what they need.
East Renfrewshire Provost Mary Montague said: “Multiple nominations were submitted for Stan and it was clear he deserved to be recognised.
“Stan’s work in Barrhead and across the local community is absolutely essential as he helps provide a service which so many people increasingly rely on each week."
February
The hub was officially opened for Include Me 2 Club (IM2C) by Provost Mary Montague and East Renfrewshire Council leader Owen O’Donnell.
The Ideas Academy was set up as a three-in-one space, including a training centre, storage for bicycles that have been donated and a general store for the charity’s growing collection of equipment and resources.
Described as “a genuine incubator space to test, try and develop ideas into reality,” it was created to provide a base for initiatives such as IM2C’s DJ Skool, Media Makers, Media Explorers, Training Hub, Barista Academy and Awards Hub, as well as other new projects and services which will “springboard from” the facility.
A spokesperson for IM2C said at the time: "The ribbon is cut and the space is open, ready for ideas to flow and develop.”
March
Sinclair Hair Studio, in Main Street, was set to shut its doors the following month when Billy Sinclair retired.
The 73-year-old started out with James Lawns, in Cross Arthurlie Street, Barrhead, after leaving St John’s school before opening his own shop for gents in Kirktonfield Road, in Neilston, in 1968.
He later opened a ladies salon in the back of the premises before making the move up to his Main Street premises in 1980.
He told the Barrhead News: “I’ve had my reliable sidekick with me, Mick [Barclay, who managed the gents].
"He’s been here for about 35 years and Cathy [Moore, who managed the ladies salon] has also been with me for 35 years.
“They are very much appreciated.
“Neilston’s been good to me and I’ve tried to contribute as much as I could.
“I was chairman of the Neilston Business Forum and I’ve been quite involved with the village. I’ve enjoyed my time here.”
April
Community heroes took centre stage as Barrhead’s finest were honoured at a glittering ceremony.
The Dalmeny Park House Hotel was the venue for this year’s All About Barrhead Awards, which saw a number of local residents, businesses and worthy causes being rewarded for their outstanding efforts to help others.
More than 200 people attended the event, which for a second consecutive year was hosted by Laura Boyd, who is best known as a presenter on STV.
Laura said: “I love hosting the All About Barrhead Awards because it’s an opportunity to recognise the hard work and dedication of local heroes who go above and beyond for the Barrhead community heroes."
The coveted Barrhead Star award, sponsored by East Renfrewshire Council, was won by Ashley McIlvenny (pictured above right with Provost Mary Montague) for her “outstanding achievements and immense endeavours” in the Barrhead community and her work with Include Me 2 Club.
May
Chloe Martin had been running Chloebakescakess since 2020, having launched the business after the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was pretty much a lockdown thing,” she said.
“I was furloughed from my normal job during Covid and I was a bit bored and looking for something to do.
“I started baking and then I quickly realised that I could actually make a job out of it.”
Less than a year after launching the business, Chloe moved house and set up a bakery in her garage, designing a variety of creative cakes ever since.
Before getting into the baking business, she worked in schools, which she described as “a bit different” from her new role.
While her culinary skills proved popular with customers, we also told how 22-year-old Chloe's cakes had become a big hit with social media users, especially on TikTok.
June
A total of 33 youngsters from across two classes at Carlibar Primary learned learning about the importance of respecting and protecting nature as part of their John Muir Award.
The environmental scheme, which the school usually takes part in every year, urges people of all backgrounds to “connect with, enjoy and care for wild places.”
As part of this, the primary seven pupils did litter picks and surveyed the local environment around Carlibar Park and the Levern walkway.
They also learned more about John Muir – the Scots-born founder of the modern conservation movement.
Muir was passionate about wild places and explored them, wrote about them and campaigned to protect them.
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